T12 - Incomplete . NEWBEE

04-04-2011, 02:38 PM

My brother shattered his t12 almost 2 months ago. He's been in Rehab the last month and I'm very confused. 2 weeks ago they had him try and move his legs while laying on his side with a sliding board between them and he was able to do so. The last week the PT’s and OT’s have just been standing him on the parallel bars and working with him in his wheel chair. Why wouldn't they keep working with his legs? They still say "time will tell" whether he will walk or not. Also, he is having horrible nerve pain these last couple days. Does this mean it's a good thing that he's feeling it or could this pain last forever and bring back no more movement? His spirits have been awesome but he's starting to get down on himself because of this pain he's feeling............Any feedback would really help.

Hi Brittani, welcome to the forum. I wish I had some answers for you, but I don't - it's still early days in your brother's rehab, and also my type of SCI is not similar to your brother's so I wouldn't hazard any guesses. But there are many, many people here who can help and this is the best forum online for the types of issues your family is facing. Best wishes to all of you.

MS with cervical and thoracic cord lesions

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If they are standing him at parallel bars, they are working his legs. Walking is not just about movement. It is about feeling pressure and knowing where your feet are placed on the floor and many other things.

It can take many months.

I am the same level as your brother and incomplete also. Every injury is different. I have walked since six weeks after my accident. However, every injury is very different.

Give it some time, he could get some return up to five years post accident.

Is he doing water therapy? I learned to walk in water in 1989. It is excellent way to wake the muscles up and get them working again.

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Hi "brittani43,"
Welcome to the Care Cure Community. Your brother is lucky to have someone like you as his advocate and supporter.
When a spinal cord injury occurs there is a lot of trauma to and swelling of the spinal column. It can take months (and not just a couple) for the trauma to heal and the swelling to reduce. When the therapists were working with your bother's legs, they were probably making an assessment of your brother's current status. They will more than likely make intermittent assessments as time goes on to determine what other therapies to add to his routine. Meantime, I suspect, your brothers rehabilitation therapists are trying to help him regain overall strength in those areas he can move and rebuild muscle mass that he may have lost during the acute phase of his injury. Whether your brother will regain some to full use of his legs is yet to be seen, and meanwhile, he has to have strength to help him perform transfers safely, bathe and dress himself, and get around in a manual wheelchair. Try to encourage your brother to get the most he can out of these weeks of rehabilitation so he can live as full a life as possible with a spinal cord injury.
Pain is a huge drain on anyone, physically and mentally. Encourage him to speak with his doctors about the type and intensity of pain he is experiencing.
Hope your brother will join in here at Care Cure. There are many people here who are excellent resources.

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Here is a little more information about his accident.
Brandon's accident occured while he was cutting down hedge trees with our Dad. He cut a tree expecting it to roll one direction but it rolled toward him, he attmepted to get out of the way but the it landed on his back. He was air lifted to Iowa City hospital immediately where he had a CAT scan and an MRI. From doing these tests the doctors found he had shattered his T12 vertibrae and had severe injury to his spinal cord. Because of his age, 27 and health the doctors determined he had a slim chance to regain the use of his lower body and decided to do surgery. Two neurosurgions performed a six hour surgery where they did everything they could do to repair the damage. The broken vertibrae was removed and rods were placed in his back to support his spinal cord. After surgery the family was told that "it is in God's hands" whether he will regain use of his lower body. We are hopeful that he will regain feeling and movement of his legs and be able to walk again.

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Here is a little more information about his accident.
Brandon's accident occured while he was cutting down hedge trees with our Dad. He cut a tree expecting it to roll one direction but it rolled toward him, he attmepted to get out of the way but the it landed on his back. He was air lifted to Iowa City hospital immediately where he had a CAT scan and an MRI. From doing these tests the doctors found he had shattered his T12 vertibrae and had severe injury to his spinal cord. Because of his age, 27 and health the doctors determined he had a slim chance to regain the use of his lower body and decided to do surgery. Two neurosurgions performed a six hour surgery where they did everything they could do to repair the damage. The broken vertibrae was removed and rods were placed in his back to support his spinal cord. After surgery the family was told that "it is in God's hands" whether he will regain use of his lower body. We are hopeful that he will regain feeling and movement of his legs and be able to walk again.

Keep the mindset that all things are adaptable. He may not be able to perform things standing up but over the years..I have adapted things to sitting down and still lived a full life.

Doctors don't know either. It depends on how bad and where the break is.

Its a big change.

Ask him about the water and find out why he has not had water therapy? It is the best if he already has movement.

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Last night my was my brothers first night at home. It was scary for him to leave Rehab after 7 weeks but he's so glad to be around all of his family. He's still having nerve pain in his legs and it's moving into his feet. It seems like after his wife stretches his legs it gets worse. Is this normal? I hope he gets rid of the pain soon.

Also, he won't be doing the extensive Rehab he's been doing for a couple days but he'll be back at it on Monday. I'm scared the next Rehab place he's going to isn't going to push him as far. What should he be doing for Rehab at 2 moths post? He's moved his legs very little on his side and has some burning sensation down to his feet. He has great hip movement and good balance too. They stood him up on the parrelell bars about twice a week. We're hoping with time it'll be better.

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I think he should be doing range of motion every day. It would be wonderful if he could work out with some free weights and use an FES bike a few times a week. He should continue the standing, also. It would be nice if he could do that daily.

The pain he is experiencing is normal. It varies in every individual.

Incomplete T-12/L-1

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He should be going to out patient teraphy where he will be push especially if there is signs of recovering. The leg pain its painful but its part of it and its nothing that cant be done. There is medication and they will offer them to him for the pain. My expirence they dont work and after awhile one get use to the pain. I been paralyze 4 years and my advice is do not overwelhm family with the stretching. The most important things that are basic I had to learn for my self beside going to out paitent theraphy. 1- make sure he get medication for leakage.. meaning he will pee on himself without knwing and what i been giving that works is call (oxybutinin) a pill in the morning and one at night. Also for spasm that works for me (baclofen 20mg n valium 5mg three times a day. As for bowel program they give you suppostory but later in time they will not work cause the body starts to change and when he have problem then I recommend magic bullet suppostory works awesome and it can be bought through the net. (important) cushion shower chair can get on ebay for 100 dollars. as well toilet seat rise need chushion because pressure sore can occur in the beginning you can feel and tend to toss your body around not knowing ur skin is fragile. I was given a toilet seat rise plastic but i bought rubber cheap slippers and rip the toe strap and glue them on the seat and it works. It will be tough learning but being patient will be helpful for himself and the family. Wish you well and feel free to ask question and i pray he gets healed fully or all that he can cause its a tough ride I tell you so understand how to mentally be patient and strong....

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As far as exercises (keep in mind that rehab is not just PT and OT), he should be doing daily stretching (range of motion, ROM) exercises, even if it is painful. He should also be doing at least a 3X/week (daily is better) strengthening program with the muscles he can control, which he can do at home. Emphasis should be placed on good exercises that maintain muscle balance in the shoulder girdle especially.

He should also be standing in a standing frame, ideally at home, and ideally 1 hour daily. In addition, it would be great for him to find a sport that he enjoys that provides him with cardiovascular exercise. This will both help his endurance and function, but also help him to decrease pain (because it produces endorphins) and also help keep his weight under control. Weight gain is common once the person gets home and starts eating home cooked foods again. Examples would be hand cycling, swimming, wheelchair basketball or lacrosse, etc.

(KLD)

The SCI-Nurses are advanced practice nurses specializing in SCI/D care. They are available to answer questions, provide education, and make suggestions which you should always discuss with your physician/primary health care provider before implementing. Medical diagnosis is not provided, nor do the SCI-Nurses provide nursing or medical care through their responses on the CareCure forums.

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Last night my was my brothers first night at home. It was scary for him to leave Rehab after 7 weeks but he's so glad to be around all of his family. He's still having nerve pain in his legs and it's moving into his feet. It seems like after his wife stretches his legs it gets worse. Is this normal? I hope he gets rid of the pain soon.

Also, he won't be doing the extensive Rehab he's been doing for a couple days but he'll be back at it on Monday. I'm scared the next Rehab place he's going to isn't going to push him as far. What should he be doing for Rehab at 2 moths post? He's moved his legs very little on his side and has some burning sensation down to his feet. He has great hip movement and good balance too. They stood him up on the parrelell bars about twice a week. We're hoping with time it'll be better.

I was scared to death to leave the rehab the first time!! Actually the lady in my outpatient rehab pushed me harder than they did inside. Glad to hear his balance is good! I never regained mine.